The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-05-26

his sick-bed. fastened, II took me but
very few moments to get there. was sur
prised as went in. ! saw him in his ordi'
nary dress fully dressed, lying on top OF the
bed gave him my hand, ana he seized "
convulsively, and said; ION, now slau ! am
10 see youI sit down there" ! sat down
and no said: "Mr. Talmage, just where you
sit now my mother sat last night she mas
been dead twenty years, Now, don't want
Won 10 think am out of my mind, or that am
superstitious; but, sir, she sat there lsst hiSht
Just as certainly rs you SIT there noW-the
same cap aud apron and spectaeies' IL was my
old mother-she sat there" Then he turned
10 his wife, and said. ~ wish you would take
these strings OFF the bod; somebody is wrap
ping strings around me all the time ! wish
YOU would stop that annoyance She said'
''There is nothing here" Then saw 1t was
delirium.
mother sat. and she said; Roswell, l wish
YOU would do better-l wish you would do
better / said: Mother, | wish | could do
better; / try to do better, but l can't
Mother, you used to help pe; why can't you
help me nowF And, sir, got out OF bed, for
it was a reality, and went her, and threw
my arms around her neck, ana ! sad;
Mother, | will do better, but you must help;
| can't do this alone" | knelt down and
prayed. That night his soul went to the
Lord that made it.
Arrangements were made for the obsequies
The question was raised whether they should
bring him to the church, Somebody said
lyon cannot bring such dissolute man as
that into the church, l said: "You will
bring him in church, he stood by me when he
was alive, and | will stand by him when he
is dead, Bring him." As l stood in the
pulpit and saw them carrying the body up
the AISLE | felt as if ! could weep tears of
blood.
On one side of the pulpit sat his little child
of eight years, a sweet, beautiful little girl
that have seen him hug convulsively In his
better moments He put on her all jewels, all
diamonds, and gave her all pictures and toys,
and then he would go away as il bounded by
an evil spirit, to his cups and the house of
shame-a fool to the correction of the stocks.
She looked up wonderingly. She knew not
what it all meant. She was not old enough
to understand the sorrow of an orphan child.
On the other side of the pulpit sat the men
who had ruined him; they were the men who
had poured the NORWOOD into the orphans
cup; they were the men who had bound him
hand and foot. l knew them. How did they
seem to feeli Did they weepi No. Did they
say: "What pity that so generous man
pentingly over what they had done! No; they
sat there looking as vultures look at the car
cass Of a lamb whose heart they have ripped
out So they sat and looked at
the coffin lid, and l told them the
Judgment of God upon those who had de-
stroyed their fellows. Did they reformi l
was told they were in the places of iniquity
that night after my friend was laid in Oak
wood Cemetery, and they blasphemed, and
they drank. Oh how mercileSs men are, espe-
cially after they have destroyed you! DO
not look to men for comfort and help. LOOK
to God.
But there is a man who won't reform. He
saws: II won't reform" Well, then, how
many acts are there in tragedy believe
five
Act the first of the tragedy: A young
man starting off from home. Parents and
sisters weeping to have him go. Wagon
rising over the hill. Farewell kiss flung
Act the second: The marriage altar Full
organ. Bright lights. Long white veil
trailing through the aisle. Prayer and
congratulation, and exclamation Of "How
well she looksl"
Act the third. A woman waiting for
staggering steps. Old garments stuck into the
broken window-pane. Marks of hardship on
fingers. Neglect, and cruelty, and despair.
Ring the bell and let the curtain drop.
Act the fourth: Three graves in dark
place-grave of the child that died for lack of
medicine, grave of the wife that died of a
broken heart, grave of the man that died OF
dissipation. On! what DlaSted heatn WIN
three gravesl Plenty of weeds, but no flow
ers Ring the bell and let the curtain drop.
Act the fifth: A destroyed souls eternity.
No light No music No hope Anguish
coiling its serpents around the heart. Black
ness of darkness forever.
But cannot look any longer. Woe! woel
l close my eyes to this last act of the tragedy.
Quick! Quick Ring the bell and let the curtain
drop "Rejoice, Oh young man! in thy
youth, and let thy heart rejoice in the days
| of thy youth; but know thou that for all
these things God will bring you into iudg-
| ment" There is way that seemeth right to
| n .,,.r, hut thu md thnrenf is death y